Money talks; will both the Los Angeles Lakers and the NCAA champion Connecticut Huskies walk?
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CBSSports.com identified separate stories that indicated that UConn coach Kevin Ollie may leave college for the professional ranks in 2014-15 after all.
It cited a Los Angeles Daily News report that Ollie is considering an offer from an unidentified NBA team that does not reside in Southern California.
"An undisclosed NBA team not named the Lakers reached out to Ollie about interviewing for its vacant head coaching position, leaving the UConn coach mulling over the team's latest extension offer, according to a league source familiar with the situation," the Daily News reported.
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"A team has come at him hard. It's going to be interesting," the source told the Daily News. "He's always preferred UConn. But he may have a decision to make."
"Ollie's current contract runs through the 2017-18 season, but both Ollie and the Huskies are mindful of his increased market value stemmed from UCONN's recent NCAA championship and heightened NBA interest. Ollie's contract offer is believed to be about double of the $1.4 million he made this past season when accounting for bonuses," according to the Daily News.
Meanwhile, CBSSports.com cited an Akron Beacon-Journal report suggesting that the price to lure Ollie to the NBA is starting at $5,000,001 per season.
"One source with knowledge of at least one team's coaching search said Ollie will want a contract larger than the five-year, $25 million deal the Golden State Warriors handed Steve Kerr.
"The reasoning is simple: Ollie has a longer record of success and accomplished more (won a national title) than Kerr has as a head coach. This is Kerr's first head-coaching job."
The Lakers are taking a gamble by not contacting candidates until after the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday, when they know which pick they have in the 2014 NBA Draft.
If they think they can attract a better candidate with a higher draft pick, that's one thing, but if they fall as far as to No. 9, the candidates they may pursue there, such as Ollie, might already be gone.
Do you think Kevin Ollie should leave UConn for the NBA after just two seasons? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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